High-powered UN, AU and IGAD delegation pledge full and united support for South Sudan peace deal

There should be no further delay in forming a new unity government in South Sudan beyond the six-month extension period, the UN, African Union (AU) and east African bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have told parties to the fragile 2018 peace pact.

A joint UN-AU-IGAD delegation led by UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix concluded a two-day visit to the conflict-torn east African country on Saturday to push for the implementation of the September 2018 peace deal.

The team said while they remain supportive of the six-month extension, the rival groups in South Sudan should redouble efforts in implementing the pact and avoid further delays.

Lacroix urged the warring factions to use the six-month period to move the pact forward and end the crisis facing the world's youngest nation.

"Our purpose is to be supportive so that the next six-month after this extension of the pre-transitional period will be used to generate substantial advances in the implementation of the peace agreement, in the improvement of the lives of millions and millions of South Sudanese," Lacroix said.

"We wanted also to say quite clearly that this extension should be the last one. We are expecting the parties now to do every effort possible, every sacrifice, so that we have the transitional government in place next November," said Smail Chergui, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security.

The joint team addressed journalists on Saturday in Juba.